Prolific Duggar Family Expecting Baby #20

[MithLuin]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' timestamp='1320814688' post='2333601']
I don't think that's possible unless you start popping 'em out at like, age 14.
[/quote]

Michelle Duggar had her first child at age 21, three years after she got married. She has two sets of twins. She's having her 20th child (19th pregnancy) at age 45. So, her births are an average of 16 mo. apart. That's [i]plenty[/i] possible...obviously. I realize that fitting a few more kids in there is a big difference, but if she'd started at 18 and spaced a few of them more closely (quite a few are closer than the 16 mo. average, so there are some gaps), she could have closer to 25 by now. You don't have to start at 14.

So, yes, a woman could give birth to 25 children over the course of her life. It's unusual for several reasons. Most women can't physically do that; complications with a pregnancy or birth often spelled death for the mother prior to the option of a (relatively) safe surgical C-section. Also, each pregnancy means the placenta attaches in a different place in the uterus, leaving behind a small scar, so you can literally run out of room in there for new babies. And then there is the question of fertility in both the man and the woman...lots of factors can lead to a decrease in fertility as time goes on, and then the babies will be spaced further apart.

Catherine of Sienna's mom (Lapa) lived into her late 80s, so obviously her health survived that many pregnancies (and the Black Death). She gave birth to her 25th and last child around the age of 42. So, I imagine she did start rather young. Though, she didn't *raise* 25 children, as many of them (about half) died young. Catherine's twin sister died in infancy, and her one younger sister also died (though perhaps much later).

And of course the birth control mentality of modern society is basically...why on earth would you even consider doing something ridiculous like this to yourself?!?! So a lot fewer couples would even consider such a large family. And to be honest, I don't blame them. Raising kids is a lot of work, and it's not an operation I would want to 'scale up'. I think being open to life is very important, but also being prudent and responsible for the children you have. For most families...doing what the Duggars are doing would not be feasible. But it is true that the completely *horrified* reaction some people have to this news suggests that there's something very wrong with how we view children.

But I'm 31 and unmarried, so I really don't have to consider this. When I have 20 kids in one room...I get to send them home at the end of the school day .

[tinytherese]

I may get flamed for this, but I say this with all due respect to the Duggars because they really are a wholesome and holy family, but I still don't like that the older ones are basically the parents to the little ones. I can certainly understand them pulling their weight and babysitting them, but not the extent that they do while the mom is constantly focusing on her pregnancies. It's just my opinion though.

[MissyP89]

Nothing wrong with calling it like it is, tinyt.